THE BRACKEN. 127 



situation influences, too, the form and development 

 of this fern. But describing it under its usual 

 conditions, it may be stated that the stalk of the 

 frond, of a lovely green colour, is a little more than 

 half the length of the latter, which, from the point 

 where the stalk ends, exhibits a triangular appear- 

 ance. But its uppermost tip forms the most acute 

 angle of the three, the bottom of the frond being 

 the shortest of its three sides. Unrolling upwards, 

 the bare stalk being terminated, and the rachis 

 the main or central stem of the frond proper hav- 

 ing commenced, on each side, right and left, are 

 thrown out in pairs the side branches. These side 

 branches continue to be thrown out in pairs as the 

 fronds unroll upwards, each pair, however, dimin- 

 ishing in length until the extreme point of the 

 frond is attained, within a short distance of which 

 the perpendicular and the lateral extensions are 

 merged. Each one of the side branches is again 

 divided, and bears on its midrib successive pairs of 

 leaflets, sometimes placed opposite each other, and 

 sometimes placed alternately. These are longest 

 at the part of the branch near the central midrib of 



